CSIR NET December 2026 Notification
Joint CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) December 2026
SarkariHawk is not a government website. Confirm every detail in the official notice.
Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 is the National Testing Agency's test for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor eligibility and Ph.D. admission in five science subjects. Apply online at csirnet.nta.nic.in from 7 October to 5 November 2026 (11:50 pm); the computer-based exam is on 19, 22 and 27 December 2026.
CSIR NET December 2026 at a glance
- CSIR NET December 2026 status
- Form closed
- CSIR NET December 2026 last date
- 5 Nov 2026 (fee till 9 Nov 2026)
- Age limit
- JRF: up to 30 years on 1 Dec 2026; no upper limit for Assistant Professor / Ph.D., as on 1 Dec 2026
- Application fee
- General: ₹1,150; General-EWS / OBC-NCL: ₹600; SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third gender: ₹325; Late fee (6–9 Nov 2026): ₹500
- Qualification
- Post graduate
- Pay
- JRF: ₹37,000 per month (first two years)
Forms open now
CSIR NET December 2026 Important Dates
- Online application starts
- Last date to apply
- Late submission with ₹500 late fee (last date)
- Correction window (10–12 Nov 2026)
- Admit cardTo be announced later
- Exam dates: 19, 22 and 27 Dec 2026
- ResultTo be announced later
CSIR NET December 2026 Application Fee
| General | ₹1,150 |
|---|---|
| General-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹600 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third gender | ₹325 |
| Late fee (6–9 Nov 2026) | ₹500 |
CSIR NET December 2026 Age Limit as on 1 Dec 2026
| Age limit | JRF: up to 30 years on 1 Dec 2026; no upper limit for Assistant Professor / Ph.D. |
|---|---|
| Relaxation: OBC-NCL / SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third gender / Women (JRF) | Up to 5 years |
| Relaxation: Research experience in the PG subject (JRF) | Period of research, up to 5 years |
| Relaxation: Armed forces service (JRF) | Up to 5 years (total relaxation never above 5 years) |
CSIR NET December 2026 Eligibility
- Master's degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks (without rounding off) for General/Unreserved/General-EWS candidates, or at least 50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third gender candidates.
- Candidates still pursuing the Master's degree, or whose final-year result is awaited, can apply provisionally. They must pass with the required percentage within two years of the NET result (within one year if they qualify for 'Admission to Ph.D. only').
- A 4-year/8-semester bachelor's degree with at least 75% marks (5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwBD/EWS and other categories as decided by UGC) also makes you eligible, but only for JRF and Ph.D. admission, not for Assistant Professor.
- Age for JRF: not more than 30 years on 1 December 2026 (the first day of the month in which the exam concludes). Up to 5 years' relaxation for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, Third gender and women; total relaxation cannot exceed 5 years.
- No upper age limit for Assistant Professor or for 'Admission to Ph.D. only'.
- Only Indian nationals can take the test. Ph.D. holders who completed their Master's by 19 September 1991 get a 5% relaxation in the marks condition (55% to 50%).
CSIR NET December 2026 Selection Process
- One computer-based test of 180 minutes with three parts (A, B and C), all objective multiple-choice questions, in the subject you choose.
- Answer key challenge: the provisional key is displayed for two to three days and each challenge costs ₹200 per question.
- Result on the cumulative marks of all three parts, with a minimum benchmark of 33% for General, EWS and OBC and 25% for SC, ST and PwD/PwBD.
- Qualified candidates are placed in one of three categories: JRF and Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission, or Ph.D. admission only.
CSIR NET December 2026 Exam Pattern
| Stage | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Sciences (701) | Part A | 20 | – | 180 min for all parts; attempt 75 questions, 200 marks |
| Chemical Sciences (701) | Part B | 40 | – | – |
| Chemical Sciences (701) | Part C | 60 | – | – |
| Earth Sciences (702) | Part A | 20 | – | 180 min for all parts; attempt 75 questions, 200 marks |
| Earth Sciences (702) | Part B | 50 | – | – |
| Earth Sciences (702) | Part C | 80 | – | – |
| Life Sciences (703) | Part A | 20 | – | 180 min for all parts; attempt 75 questions, 200 marks |
| Life Sciences (703) | Part B | 50 | – | – |
| Life Sciences (703) | Part C | 75 | – | – |
| Mathematical Sciences (704) | Part A | 20 | – | 180 min for all parts; attempt 60 questions, 200 marks |
| Mathematical Sciences (704) | Part B | 40 | – | – |
| Mathematical Sciences (704) | Part C | 60 | – | – |
| Physical Sciences (705) | Part A | 20 | – | 180 min for all parts; attempt 55 questions, 200 marks |
| Physical Sciences (705) | Part B | 25 | – | – |
| Physical Sciences (705) | Part C | 30 | – | – |
CSIR NET December 2026 Vacancy Details
| Post | Qualification | Posts |
|---|
How to Apply for CSIR NET December 2026
- Go to https://csirnet.nta.nic.in and register with your own e-mail ID and mobile number (registration also works through the MeriPehchaan single sign-on). Note the Application Number generated.
- Log in and fill the form: personal details, subject, exam cities and educational qualifications. A candidate can fill only one application.
- Capture your live photograph by webcam and upload a recent passport-size photo (10–200 kb, JPG/JPEG), your signature (10–50 kb, JPG/JPEG) and, if applicable, the disability/UDID certificate, category certificate or Result Awaited Attestation Form (PDF, 50–300 kb).
- Pay the fee online by net banking, debit/credit card or UPI: ₹1,150 General, ₹600 General-EWS/OBC-NCL, ₹325 SC/ST/PwD/PwBD/Third gender. The form must be complete by 5 November 2026, 11:50 pm.
- Missed the date? Late submission with a late fee of ₹500 is allowed from 6 to 9 November 2026 (11:50 pm).
- Download and keep the Confirmation Page. Corrections to a submitted form can be made online from 10 to 12 November 2026.
CSIR NET December 2026 Important Links
Update timeline
CSIR NET December 2026: Complete Details
What is Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026?
Joint CSIR-UGC NET is a test, conducted by the National Testing Agency for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, that decides whether Indian nationals are eligible for the award of Junior Research Fellowship with appointment as Assistant Professor, for appointment as Assistant Professor with Ph.D. admission, or for Ph.D. admission only, in Indian universities and colleges. The Department of Biotechnology also awards its DBT-JRF fellowships in Life Sciences and Bio-Technology through this exam. The December 2026 cycle covers five science subjects and is held entirely as a computer-based test.
CSIR NET December 2026 important dates
Online registration runs from 7 October 2026 to 5 November 2026, up to 11:50 pm. Late submission with a ₹500 late fee is open from 6 to 9 November 2026, and the correction window for submitted forms is 10 to 12 November 2026. The exam is on 19, 22 and 27 December 2026. The city intimation slip, the admit card, the answer keys and the result will be announced later on the NTA website. The bulletin says these dates are tentative and candidates will be told of any change.
Exam pattern and marking
The paper lasts 180 minutes and has three parts with no break. Part A is common to all subjects and tests general aptitude such as logical reasoning, graphical analysis and numerical ability. Part B has subject questions from the syllabus, and Part C has higher-order questions that apply scientific concepts. Every subject carries 200 marks. In Chemical Sciences you answer 75 of 120 questions, in Earth Sciences 75 of 150, in Life Sciences 75 of 145, in Mathematical Sciences 60 of 120 and in Physical Sciences 55 of 75. If you answer more than allowed, only the first ones are evaluated. The paper is in Hindi and English.
Qualifying marks and result
There is no separate cut-off for Parts A, B and C; the cumulative marks of all parts decide the merit list. The minimum benchmark is 33% for General, EWS and OBC candidates and 25% for SC, ST and PwD/PwBD, for fellowship as well as Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission. The number of candidates qualified in each category is decided by the results committee. The score card shows the total percentile score and marks. For Ph.D. admission, marks in categories 2 and 3 are valid for one year and carry 70% weightage, with 30% from the university interview.
JRF fellowship and validity
A JRF selected through this exam receives ₹37,000 per month for the first two years and a ₹20,000 annual contingent grant. After two years, a fellow registered for Ph.D. can be upgraded to SRF at ₹42,000 per month after an expert committee review. The number of fellowships in each subject is limited and changes from cycle to cycle. The Assistant Professor qualifying certificate has no end date of validity.
Documents to keep ready
Keep a recent colour passport-size photo with a white background, your signature, a working webcam for the live photo, your own e-mail ID and mobile number, and if applicable a disability or UDID certificate, a category certificate and the Result Awaited Attestation Form. On exam day carry the admit card with the self-declaration, two extra passport-size photos and an original photo ID such as Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, passport or driving licence.
CSIR NET December 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for CSIR NET December 2026?
The last date is 5 November 2026 (up to 11:50 pm). With a late fee of ₹500 you can still submit from 6 to 9 November 2026 (up to 11:50 pm).
When is the CSIR NET December 2026 exam?
The computer-based exam is on 19, 22 and 27 December 2026, in two shifts: 9:00 am to 12 noon and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Your date and shift will be on your admit card.
What is the application fee?
₹1,150 for General, ₹600 for General-EWS and OBC-NCL, and ₹325 for SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third gender candidates. Bank or payment gateway charges are extra. The late fee is ₹500.
What is the age limit for CSIR NET JRF?
For JRF you must not be more than 30 years old on 1 December 2026. OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, Third gender and women candidates get up to 5 years' relaxation, and research experience or armed forces service can also count, but total relaxation cannot exceed 5 years.
Is there an age limit for Assistant Professor?
No. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or for 'Admission to Ph.D. only'.
Which subjects are in CSIR NET?
Five: Chemical Sciences (701); Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences (702); Life Sciences and Bio-Technology (703); Mathematical Sciences (704); and Physical Sciences (705).
Is there negative marking?
Yes. In most papers a wrong answer costs 25% of the question's marks. In Earth Sciences Part C it is 33% (1.32 marks), and Mathematical Sciences Part C has no negative marking.
Can final-year Master's students apply?
Yes, provisionally. They must pass the Master's with at least 55% (50% for OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/PwBD/Third gender) within two years of the NET result, or within one year if they qualify for Ph.D. admission only.
What is the JRF stipend?
₹37,000 per month for the first two years plus a contingent grant of ₹20,000 a year. After two years, if registered for Ph.D. and recommended, it becomes SRF at ₹42,000 per month.
Where do I apply?
Only online at https://csirnet.nta.nic.in. Forms sent in any other way are not accepted.
More jobs like this
How this page was made
Drafted automatically from the official NTA notice. The posts, dates, fees and age limit were cross-checked by two independent automated readers of that notice; pages where they disagree are reviewed by the editor before publishing.
No corrections so far.
Spotted a mistake? Report itSarkariHawk is an independent site, not a government website.